Weird science

A compelling account of the push to create synthetic life forms and their potential benefit

- Robin McKie

The prophet Ezekiel once claimed to have seen four beasts emerge from a burning cloud, "sparkling like the colour of burnished brass". Each had wings and four faces: that of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Similarly, a creature called Buraq, something between a mule and a donkey with wings and a human face, was said to have carried the prophet Muhammad on his journeys; while the ancient Greeks gave us the centaur, the mythical human-horse hybrid.

"The impulse to blend the anatomical traits of other species with those of humans appears to be hardwired into our imagination," notes Adrian Woolfson in his intriguing and disturbing analysis of a biological revolution he believes is about to sweep the planet.

Very soon, we will not only dream up imaginary animals - we will turn them into biological reality.

According to this forecast, species shaped by billions of years of natural selection will soon have to share their world with artificial versions designed by humans, with dramatic consequences. "Synthetic species could be harnessed to produce biofuels, medicines, biosensors, drought-resistant crops and countless other innovations," he writes.

This is the stuff of science fiction.